Although many people think of gem quality diamonds as colorless, truly colorless diamonds are actually very rare. Most diamonds used in jewelry are nearly colorlesss with tints of yellow or brown. Color grades are determined by comparing each diamond to a master set. Each letter grade represents a range of color and is a measure of how noticeable a color is.
Understanding How Fluorescence Affects A Diamond
Fluorescence is a property that some diamonds possess. It makes the color of a diamond look whiter or yellower in different types of light. Gem quality diamonds usually fluoresce blue but can also fluoresce in other colors including white, yellow, and orange. Normally, fluorescence cannot be seen with the naked eye and fluorescence usually has no effect on a diamond’s appearance in regular incandescent light. But blue fluorescence can mask yellow tints in a diamond. That can make a diamond look whiter under sunlight or under a daylight-type fluorescent lamp than under regular incandescent light. Also, a white diamond that fluoresces yellow can look yellower than it really is. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check your diamond’s color with your qualified Master IJO Jeweler.
